Vienna's schools in language chaos: Will integration be lost?

Vienna's schools in language chaos: Will integration be lost?

A storm is brewing in the classrooms of Vienna! Teacher Niki Glattauer sounds the alarm in an interview with “Heute”: According to a study by the University of Vienna, in 90 percent of middle schools in Vienna there are now only “foreigner classes”. At many compulsory schools in the capital, integration seems to be a distant dream, as there are fewer and fewer predominantly German-speaking learning environments.

Around 30,000 students are currently in special German support classes, which they attend for up to 20 hours per week. But after just two years, many students have to leave this support and then find themselves stuck in traditional classes. A shocking statistic: 70 percent of school principals admitted to ignoring ministerial guidelines and keeping students in special education classes longer in order to improve their chances.

Desperation and demands

Elementary school teachers, like a teacher from Graz, are also in turmoil. She strongly criticizes the fact that many 9-year-old children from crisis countries like Syria and Afghanistan not only don't speak a word of German, but even have problems counting from 1 to 10! This worrying situation is leading to a loud call for smaller support classes, more staff and increased school autonomy. These steps are urgently needed to provide students with greater support and to sustainably improve their German skills.

Criticism also comes from the ranks of school management: Director Christian Klar describes the blatant lack of language role models at many compulsory schools in Vienna. The pressure on teachers and students is growing, and teachers' cries for help often go unanswered. Education policy in Vienna is faced with the challenge of taking effective measures to offer students a fair chance.